Protest rally against police excesses in Gharsana

Sriganganagar, Oct 17: The Congress and the CPM will today hold a protest rally at the Collectorate here in protest against the alleged police excesses on the agitating farmers in Gharsana village in this district.

Sources said various socio-political organisations will participate in the rally.

Former Congress legislator Sohan Nayak alleged the police forcefully entered the houses in Gharsana and Raola villages and beat up women.

Curfew was imposed in Gharsana and Raola this morning following violent clashes between the agitating farmers and police yesterday.

At least 100 people including a number of women and policemen were injured in the clashes. Army was called in last night in Gharsana, which conducted a flag march through the town.

The farmers had been agitating for the past one week demanding 58 per cent share of irrigation water from Indira Gandhi Canal Project and also the release of their arrested leaders.

The farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti had warned of intensifying their stir from Monday if their demands were not met.

UNI